I would like to earn a degree in special education but I don't have a background in education or teaching. I hold a bachelors degree in computer science. What are my options?
Have you heard about the Dual certification course at Depaul? It seems like it is tailored for people like me.
Please advice
Thankyou in advance.
Simi
S C,
Check out the Chicago Public Schools website, they have some affordable programs.
All the Best!
Congratulations on going back to school. I don't know much about your specific field, but I am currently a full-time law student at DePaul, and have a 13 month old son. While it's obviously a bit of a juggle to do school, work and be a mommy, DePaul is amazingly supportive. I'm not sure if the program you're considering is at the Loop campus or the LIncoln Park campus, but there are amenities (not well advertised, unfortunately) that make it easier - at least at the Loop campus. There's a nursing mother's room, and i've often taken my son with me to get things done at school. My babysitter will bring him by to give us a chance to see each other in the middle of a busy week, and no one minds. I've had staff members and professors offer to amuse him while I finish a few things. It's those little things that make it a lot easier, and I've been pretty impressed with the support at DePaul.
Hi there...I am in the T&L program in the school of education at DePaul. Basically it is a career change program (my undergrad is in Recreation Management). There are several options- dual certificates, a Masters in Ed in Special Education and some others I am sure. I love the program and have been working on my Master's for three years but you can do it much faster than that, with a baby though I just decided to take my time and I really only take one class a quarter (I think it is 12-13 classes for the degree). It is focused on Urban programs so most people go on to work in CPS. Hope this helps! check out the depaul website for much more info.
As a returning student, with an 11-month old, I would say it is worth doing it overall! Hard, since mine is so young, but the faculty understand.
Anyway, I would talk to the admissions counselors of the schools in the area. I am at UIC, which is considerably less money than DePaul (DePaul is awesome, yes, but pricey).
Wherever you end up at, remember the City Colleges for prerequisites. UIC worked with me to figure out which courses I needed and could take at CCC. Took me 3 years, but I did it, and with online courses I was able to do a lot at home while working.
Good luck!
The easiest route to take would be to pursue a masters degree in education, specializing in special education. Many colleges and universities have programs for 'second-career' educators so it should be fairly easy to find something you like.
I did my MS in Early Childhood Development at Erikson Institute and work with kids with special needs as a pediatric PT. They also offer an MS in Early Children Education, which would give you an awesome teacher basis, then you can pick up special ed classes, too, if that is not enough. But, an Erikson degree is for kids 0-7. If you want to teach the bigger kids, perhaps National Lewis in Evanston. They have a FANTASTIC reputation as a teachers college (masters, bachelors.)
Welcome to the field, we need you!
